Lyncs Dazzles The Hotel Café in Stripped-Back Acoustic Set
- Mikaila Storrs
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
In a surprise last-minute show announced just 48 hours prior, indie-pop artist Lyncs took the stage at the Hotel Café, opening for British singer-songwriter Harvey Brittain. The performance was a rare, stripped-down acoustic set, which she acknowledged she hadn't done before with most of the songs she played. Known for her ethereal melodies and emotionally charged lyrics, Lyncs transformed the intimate venue into a personal listening space, drawing everyone in with a quiet magnetism that carried through every verse.
The night opened with “Ashes,” a song that felt tailor-made for an acoustic setting. Its intimate arrangement amplified the emotional weight of lines like “I burned all the notes that you left me, but can't throw away the ashes / I gave away all of your jackets, but can't throw away the patches.” The raw vulnerability in her voice gripped the room, and even those unfamiliar with the lyrics swayed in unison, erupting in cheers as she effortlessly climbed into the high notes.
From there, she shifted into “Dancing On The Freeway,” a track that gave her vocals room to soar, sparking loud applause from every corner of the room. Midway through the set, she surprised everyone with an unreleased song that instantly struck a chord. While she didn't share the title, the lyrics explored the quiet ache of always being the second choice—the girl always on the sidelines.
Later, in a lighthearted moment, she paused to retune her guitar, laughing that it had sounded a bit off in the last song. The audience, clearly enamored, shouted back, “It sounded perfect!” She introduced the next song by saying, “This one’s about best friends.” What followed was an intimate acoustic version of "Sick + Sin," stripped of its usual edge and reimagined with a softer touch, highlighting the song’s core message about deep, loyal friendship and the kind of connection that makes you willing to go to any length for someone you care about.
All too soon, her set neared its end. Before the final song, she asked, “Who’s ever had their heart broken so bad it felt like a heart attack?” Hands shot up, and voices echoed in agreement. That’s the beauty of music—it reminds us we’re not alone in what we’ve been through. She closed with a cathartic anthem, belting out: "Tell me, how does it feel watching me undo / All the little things that you put me through? / I found somebody new, I don't want you back / Guess I found the cure to a heart attack."
There’s a certain magic in witnessing an artist in an intimate setting, especially when they're right on the edge of something big. Hearing her play these songs in their rawest form, just her and a guitar, felt like a rare privilege. You could tell everyone in the room felt it too—that quiet understanding that this was something special. One of those unforgettable nights you’ll look back on and say, “We saw her before the rest of the world caught on.”
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